Fraud & Identity Theft Center

We would like to introduce you to good anti-phishing and anti-check fraud information websites, so you don't fall victim to Internet phishing or fake check scammers. http://www.fraud.org/money_making

IMPORTANT NOTICE: PHISHING & SPOOFING

With the recent rise in email and internet scams (phishing and spoofing scams), it is extremely important to never disclose any of your personal information over the phone or online, unless you have verified the authenticity of the individual or website.

F&A Federal Credit Union assures you that we will never initiate calls or send emails to our members asking for personal member information, such as Social Security Number, address, credit card numbers, etc. F&A routinely asks for verification of members contacting the credit union. This is just one of the security measures taken when conducting business transactions. If you have questions or concerns regarding identity theft, please feel free to contact the credit union.

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

It is estimated that 9.9 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2004. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America, according to a Federal Trade Commission survey!

Don't become identity theft's next victimThere are simple precautions that will keep your identity safe. We've provided the following information as a courtesy to help protect you from identity fraud and other criminal activities.

Review the links and information on this page to learn how to protect your personal and financial information.

Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you at no cost.

Credit Bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

Use the FTC's ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.

File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.

File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps us learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so that we can better assist you.

If you believe you have been a victim of mail fraud, submit a mail fraud complaint form with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Be Smart. Protect Yourself from Identity TheftThe following information is designed to safeguard your financial information.

Identity Theft Protection

Identity theft can occur when an individual obtains personal information, such as your social security number, date of birth, address, and financial account numbers. Once this information is obtained, the thieves will assume or take on your identity, allowing them to illegally purchase items or obtain credit. By following these simple guidelines, your potential for loss due to identity theft can be greatly reduced.

Tips for protecting yourself against identity theft

Check your credit report on a regular basis to ensure the information is correct.

Immediately tear up (using a shredder is even better!) unsolicited credit card offers.

Never give personal information over the phone unless you initiated the phone call.

Never give a credit card number over the phone unless you have initiated the phone call.

Always be familiar with financial accounts that you currently maintain. Verify statements and other information sent by your financial institution for accuracy.

If you must store your canceled checks cut a triangle out of the signature line thereby eliminating duplication of the check and signature.

Check Cashing Fraud Protection

This guide provides tips for protecting yourself against check cashing fraud. Check cashing fraud occurs when individuals use information taken from your checks, or the checks themselves, to access your accounts and commit fraudulent acts. By following these simple guidelines you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a victim.

Tips for protecting yourself against check cashing fraud

Always safeguard your checks. Do not leave your checks out in an open area. Never leave your checks in your car or out on your desk at the office.

Keep your blank checks and canceled checks in a safe place. Put them in a vault or other secure location. Destroy old blank checks if you are not going to use them.

Limit the amount of personal information printed on the checks to your name and address. Use plain designed checks. The fancier the check the easier it is to forge the signature. Useful information for thieves includes not only your account numbers, but information used to verify your identity, such as your driver's license number, social security number, and secret codes. Don't have this information printed on your checks.

Don't leave your bill payments sitting in an unlocked mailbox for pickup. Many credit thieves will steal bills from rural mailboxes at the end of driveways so they can get your account information, checking information, and even your checks. Go to the Post Office directly or use a curbside USPS mailbox (the blue metal ones) and drop your bills in the slot rather than using less secure street mailboxes.

Be discreet when writing checks in public places. Write your checks carefully and leave no space in which figures or words can be inserted.

When you make an error in writing a check, be sure to destroy the check or write "canceled" across it and store it with your other canceled checks.

If your checks are lost or stolen, report it immediately to your financial institution.

Reconcile your monthly statements as soon as you can to ensure all transactions are accurate. Contact us immediately if you do not receive it when expected. Be sure to contact your institution within that time frame to ensure that proper attention is given to reconciling the problem.

When you reorder checks, mark your calendar. If you don't receive your checks within 15 working days, contact your financial institution immediately to inquire as to the status of the order.

Check Cashing Scams

Consumers Should Be Vigilant and Avoid Depositing Checks from Unknown Parties

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 10, 2017) – Consumers should be on the lookout for fake check scams, the National Credit Union Administration warned today after receiving numerous inquiries from consumers.

There are many versions of a fake check scam. However, the result is the same. Scammers lure consumers into depositing a cashier’s check, money order, or other checking instrument from someone that they don’t know and wiring or sending money to the scammers. A check may take considerably longer to clear the financial institution that issued it before the funds can be collected. It could take days or even weeks to discover that the deposited check was fraudulent.

When the check is discovered to be fraudulent, the damage may already have been done. Once a victim wires or sends funds from such a check, he or she may be responsible for reimbursing the financial institution for that amount. Typically, the financial institution will not cover the financial loss and expects the victim to pay the difference.

The Federal Trade Commission also recently issued a fake check scam alert. These checks can be hard to recognize. They may be printed with the names, addresses, and logos of legitimate financial institutions. Consumers are reminded to be on the alert and to not be pressured into wiring funds or sending money after depositing a check.

If you think you or someone you know was the victim of a fake check scam, consider taking the following steps:

Contact your local law enforcement agency to report the scam.

Contact your state’s attorney general. Contact information for each state’s attorney general can be found on the National Association of Attorneys General website.

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Your complaint will be filed into a secure online database, which is used by many local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies. Complaints from consumers help detect patterns of fraud and abuse.

If you or the victim is an older adult or a person with a disability, contact your local adult protective services agency. You can find local support resources using the online Eldercare Locator or by calling 1-800-677-1116.

Under the Federal Credit Union Act, promoting financial literacy is a core credit union mission. While credit unions serve the needs of their members and promote financial literacy within the communities they serve, NCUA works to reinforce credit union efforts, raise consumer awareness and increase access to credit union services. NCUA also participates in national financial literacy initiatives, including the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, an interagency group created by Congress to improve the nation’s financial literacy and education. Access NCUA’s Financial Literacy Resource center at NCUA.gov for more information.

ATM Fraud Protection

ATM fraud can occur when individuals lose their card, give their card to someone else to use, or when their Personal Identification Number's confidentiality is compromised. By following these simple guidelines you can greatly reduce your exposure to ATM fraud.

Tips for protecting yourself against ATM fraud

Never write your Personal Identification Number (PIN) on your card or in your wallet. Memorize your PIN as soon as possible. Do not reveal your PIN to anyone not authorized to use the account.

Never use your date of birth, social security number, license number or street address as a PIN -- those are the first numbers a crook will try.

Don't throw away your ATM receipts at the ATM location. Keep them to reconcile your account, then dispose of them properly when you get home.

Always be aware of your surroundings when using the ATM. If it is late at night, try to use a machine that is well lit and avoid dark, remote locations.

Always make sure to retrieve your ATM card from the machine when the transaction is complete.

Be aware of the person behind you. Make sure no one can see you entering your PIN or how much money you withdraw.

ATM Scams

In addition to the types ATM fraud that most of us are now aware of, there are two new types that can clean out your account quickly -- card withholding and skimming.

Card withholding occurs when your card gets stuck in the ATM, you can't get it out, and you leave the card in the ATM planning to contact the financial institution the next morning. When you call you find that the card was not stuck in the ATM. What happens is that thieves put a substance into the ATM card slot which will cause your card to stick inside the ATM. They leave the ATM and wait for someone to attempt to use the it. They then get in line behind the you and try to watch you enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN). This is very common at drive-up ATMs where the user may not be paying attention to other people or cars nearby.

The thieves even go so far as to put up a sign on the ATM stating: "If your card gets stuck, enter your PIN three separate times to retrieve it." This gives them three tries to watch you enter your PIN. After you leave frustrated, and planning to contact the ATM owner the next morning, they remove your card with a pair pliers. They can then use your card at other ATMs and Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals.

Skimming is done at businesses that offer Point-of-Sale (POS) devices for you to pay with your ATM card, such as gas stations. The thieves convince an employee to allow them to connect a lap top computer or other device to the POS machine. The lap top is usually stored under the counter where the POS device is located. When you swipe your card in the POs device to make a payment the information on the magnetic strip on your ATM card is copied and loaded onto a disk. Thieves may also install a hidden video camera that records you entering your PIN. They then match the magnetic information to the PIN and access your accounts. Be on the watch for anything that is out of the ordinary.

Precautions to take for countering these scams:

Before inserting your ATM card into an ATM inspect the card slot for any residue.

If there is residue, don't use that ATM. If there is a notice on the ATM about entering your PIN several times, don't use that ATM.

If you suspect fraud, it is important to act quickly to minimize potential damage and your own liability. It is important to keep a detailed account of conversations you have with authorities and financial institutions.

Creditors. Contact all creditors immediately with whom your name has been used fraudulently -- by phone and in writing. Monitor your accounts closely for any further fraudulent activity.

Law Enforcement. Report the crime to police with jurisdiction in your case. Provide any documentation that you have collected. Get a copy of your police report. Keep the phone number of your fraud investigator handy and give it to creditors and others who require verification of your case.

Financial Institutions. If you have checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, contact the institution to report the crime. Put stop payments on appropriate outstanding checks. Close your checking and savings accounts and open new accounts. If your ATM card is stolen or compromised, get a new card and PIN. When choosing a PIN, don't use common numbers like the last four digits of your Social Security number, your date of birth, license number or street address.

U.S. Postal Service. Notify the local Postal Inspector if you suspect an identity thief has filed a change of your address with the post office or has used the mail to commit credit or bank fraud.

Social Security Administration. Call to report fraudulent use of your Social Security number.

Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Call to see if another license was issued in your name. Go to your local DMV to request a new number. Also, fill out the DMV's complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process. Send supporting documents with the completed form to the nearest DMV investigation office. Request a driver's license number different than your Social Security number if available in your state.

Civil Courts. If a civil judgment has been entered in your name for actions taken by your impostor, contact the court where the judgment was entered and report that you are a victim of identity theft. If you are wrongfully prosecuted for criminal charges, contact the state Department of Justice and the FBI.

Remedying the Effects of Identity Theft

Remedying the Effects of Identity TheftYou are receiving this information because you have notified a consumer reporting agency that you believe that you are a victim of identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, Social Security number, date of birth, or other identifying information, without authority, to commit fraud. For example, someone may have committed identity theft by using your personal information to open a credit card account or get a loan in your name. For more information, visit www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore or write to: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street N.W., Washington, DC 20552.The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you specific rights when you are, or believe that you are, the victim of identity theft. Here is a brief summary of the rights designed to help you recover from identity theft.

1. You have the right to ask that nationwide consumer reporting agencies place “fraud alerts” in your file to let potential creditors and others know that you may be a victim of identity theft. A fraud alert can make it more difficult for someone to get credit in your name because it tells creditors to follow certain procedures to protect you. It also may delay your ability to obtain credit. You may place a fraud alert in your file by calling just one of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies. As soon as that agency processes your fraud alert, it will notify the other two, which then also must place fraud alerts in your file.• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com• Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.comAn initial fraud alert stays in your file for at least one year. An extended alert stays in your file for seven years. To place either of these alerts, a consumer reporting agency will require you to provide appropriate proof of your identity, which may include your Social Security number. If you ask for an extended alert, you will have to provide an identity theft report. An identity theft report includes a copy of a report you have filed with a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, and additional information a consumer reporting agency may require you to submit. For more detailed information about the identity theft report, visit www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore.

2. You have the right to free copies of the information in your file (your “file disclosure”). An initial fraud alert entitles you to a copy of all the information in your file at each of the three nationwide agencies, and an extended alert entitles you to two free file disclosures in a 12-month period following the placing of the alert. These additional disclosures may help you detect signs of fraud, for example, whether fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or whether someone has reported a change in your address. Once a year, you also have the right to a free copy of the information in your file at any consumer reporting agency, if you believe it has inaccurate information due to fraud, such as identity theft. You also have the ability to obtain additional free file disclosures under other provisions of the FCRA. See www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore.

3. You have the right to obtain documents relating to fraudulent transactions made or accounts opened using your personal information. A creditor or other business must give you copies of applications and other business records relating to transactions and accounts that resulted from the theft of your identity, if you ask for them in writing. A business may ask you for proof of your identity, a police report, and an affidavit before giving you the documents. It may also specify an address for you to send your request. Under certain circumstances a business can refuse to provide you with these documents. See www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore.

4. You have the right to obtain information from a debt collector. If you ask, a debt collector must provide you with certain information about the debt you believe was incurred in your name by an identity thief – like the name of the creditor and the amount of the debt.

5. If you believe information in your file results from identity theft, you have the right to ask that a consumer reporting agency block that information from your file. An identity thief may run up bills in your name and not pay them. Information about the unpaid bills may appear on your consumer report. Should you decide to ask a consumer reporting agency to block the reporting of this information, you must identify the information to block, and provide the consumer reporting agency with proof of your identity and a copy of your identity theft report. The consumer reporting agency can refuse or cancel your request for a block if, for example, you don’t provide the necessary documentation, or where the block results from an error or a material misrepresentation of fact made by you. If the agency declines or rescinds the block, it must notify you. Once a debt resulting from identity theft has been blocked, a person or business with notice of the block may not sell, transfer, or place the debt for collection.

6. You also may prevent businesses from reporting information about you to consumer reporting agencies if you believe the information is a result of identity theft. To do so, you must send your request to the address specified by the business that reports the information to the consumer reporting agency. The business will expect you to identify what information you do not want reported and to provide an identity theft report.

7. The following FCRA right applies with respect to nationwide consumer reporting agencies:Consumers Have the Right to Obtain a Security FreezeYou have a right to place a “security freeze” on your credit report, which will prohibit a consumer reporting agency from releasing information in your credit report without your express authorization. The security freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a security freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit.As an alternative to a security freeze, you have the right to place an initial or extended fraud alert on your credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting 7 years.A security freeze does not apply to a person or entity, or its affiliates, or collection agencies acting on behalf of the person or entity, with which you have an existing account that requests information in your credit report for the purposes of reviewing or collecting the account. Reviewing the account includes activities related to account maintenance, monitoring, credit line increases, and account upgrades and enhancements.To learn more about identity theft and how to deal with its consequences, visit www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore, or write to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.You may have additional rights under state law. For more information, contact your local consumer protection agency or your state Attorney General.In addition to the new rights and procedures to help consumers deal with the effects of identity theft, the FCRA has many other important consumer protections.They are described in more detail at www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore.

How to OPT-OUT of Credit Card Pre-Approvals

You can OPT OUT of credit card and other pre-approvals easily! When you do, you can choose to either opt out permanently or for five years.

You can either call 1-888-5-OPT-OUT or go to optoutprescreen.com .

It won't eliminate every pre-approval. Frequent flier cards and hotel points cards are not blocked, for example. But it will take care of most of the offers you would have received.

Fraud Awareness Resources

onGuardOnline.govOnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information. Federal Trade CommissionYour National Resource for ID Theft information. Internet SafetyFor computer security and Internet safety. The Anti-Phishing Working GroupLearn about phishing and pharming, and how to report suspicious emails.